Malaysia has highest number of diabetes cases among Asean countries

SUBANG JAYA: Malaysia has the highest number of diabetics among Asean countries and the sixth in the western pacific region.
Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) chief executive officer Dr Vasuhi Murugiah said Malaysians must view this seriously, given that one in five adults above the age of 30 or about 3.6 million Malaysians are afflicted by this non-communicable disease.
Diabetes and its related health complications is one of the top killers in the country but could be prevented by simply limiting sugar intake and exercising regularly.
At present, there are 347 million people worldwide suffering from diabetes and more than 80% of diabetes deaths occur among low and middle-income populations.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) projects that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030.
A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
To create awareness on diabetes, the SJMC Run 2014 was organised early this morning, attracting some 1,500 people.
Vasuhi said the young generation should be taught at an early age about diabetes and how it can be prevented.
"Diabetes was common among those above 50 years of age but now even those in their 20s are becoming diabetic," she told theSun.
Among those who took part in the run was Hannah Yeoh, who is the state legislative speaker and also local assemblyman.
Yeoh commended SJMC for organising the run and said she was happy to see so many young people, including families, participating in the run.
She added that she supported corporate social responsibility programmes or efforts to promote a healthier lifestyle.
The run featured a 3km "fun-run" for light runners and families and a 7km run around the Subang Jaya lake for more serious participants.
Winners walked away with exciting prizes, such as Samsung Galaxy Tablets, Lenovo smart phones, a 42-inch television, vacuum cleaners, glucose monitoring devices, RM1,000 in cash and lucky draw prizes.
SJMC also gave away RM150,000 worth of health screening vouchers to all participants of the run.